This newsletter has been covering the efforts of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) to optimize treatment for patients with osteoarthritis (OA) worldwide. In 2008, OARSI published its expert consensus recommendations for the management of OA of the hip and knee (Part 2)1, based on an appraisal of existing guidelines and a systematic review of evidence for relevant therapies (Part 1)2. To determine whether these recommendations should be modified in light of new recent research, the OARSI Treatment Guidelines Committee has updated the evidence up to January 2009 (Part 3)3.

This year’s roundtable discussion reviewed and interpreted the new OARSI guidelines as well as looking at the impact of the earlier OARSI guidelines on clinical practice in Asian countries so far. Also described were current research trends, and comments were exchanged on where scientific and clinical research is headed in future.